Week 2 results at RMTC

Sometime it's the same old, same old. A Laurie Ferguson-trained horse won yet another Quarter horse sprint.

Ralph E. Danard let Ferguson train his Paint horse Jerseylicious and the result was a thrilling 220-yard victory in the $5,100 Paint Maiden Stake at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club Saturday.

"I had a Paint a couple of years ago and really they're the same to train as a straight Quarter horse when you're working with them,"said Laurie.

"You know I really can't tell you about the race - I was looking from the back end, still at the starting gate. I can't make up a story if I didn't see it." Fact is Jerseylicious ran with the pack until a few lengths from the wire when she burst out. The winner is by Awesome Chrome out of Flashem Betty by SF Royal Quick Flash and was bred in Oklahoma.

Sunday, the feature $16,000 RMTC Bonus Challenge, was run off in 15.75 seconds over 300 yards.

Ruben Saenz guided Illthinkaboutit down the course, out of the eight hole, away from all the jostling in mid-track. Dean Frey, owner and trainer, hauled in the first big payout of the Spring The winner was bred in California and is by Carter's Cartel out of Petite Azure by Band of Azure. Illthinkaboutit was first the last time out, with Scott Sterr aboard. Last season the bay mare was almost always in the money, but this weekend has shown her class.

Sticking with Quarter horses - only back to Saturday - perhaps an omen is nearing fulfillment.

Opening weekend Bruce Iron Shirt, looking ahead to the rich Quarter horse Derby, stated: "You only need one good horse to win the and I think I have her." Saturday Bruce's Zoomin Daphne, by Azoom out of La Reha de La Noche by First Down Dash and bred in Oklahoma, won her first 300-yard sprint of the year, guided home by Dwight Anthony Lewis.

"I finally got things going... I've been training this horse since January," said Bruce. "She's in real good condition." Bruce has a number of foster girls on his place on the Kainai Nation, and they are working hard at barrel racing. He hopes one or two of them can wind up as jockeys for him at the RMTC.

Former RMTC leading rider Angelle Carter was beaming Sunday after Pete Homes' horse, Where's Henry - which she trains - romped away from the field, guided by Trevor Simpson over the five furlong course. It was the first win of the Spring for Angelle.

BEHIND THE STARTING GATE… The skies were overcast all day but there was only a trace of rain Saturday... Sunday was an almost ideal day... Each outing, the Paint race is a fan favourite with a true blaze of colour thundering down the track... An oddity happened in the five-horse fifth race Saturday when the No. three horse, upon checking its ID number, turned out to be the wrong horse... the horse was scratched, knocking the field down to four horses…

After the race card Sunday, Laurie Ferguson was busy unloading a shipment of horses to add to her barn... He's still at it... for the second weekend in a row 86-year-old Stan Marks won a five furlong start with Sweet Siouxie, a horse he trains for good friend Darcy Peterson... Nellie Pigeau was concerned about her grandson Michael who was hooked up in a starting gate incident involving Just Zoom Will Do, in the eighth race Sunday, but all turned out well... Laurie Ferguson is still the leading trainer, with four wins to date. Knotted in second with three wins are Lyle Magnuson, Kurt Carlton and Stan Marks... The leading riders after two weekends, all with five wins, are Tyler Walker, Blandford Stewart and Larris Allen... Next racing at the RMTC will be this coming Saturday and Sunday, post time 1:15 p.m. each day.